In a devastating blow to the Fighting Irish, Notre Dame’s defensive unit has suffered another significant setback with the loss of pass rush specialist Boubacar Traore to a season-ending left knee injury. The redshirt freshman, who had been making waves with his impressive performances, sustained the injury during the team’s September 28th victory over Louisville.
Traore, a highly touted recruit from Boston, had quickly become a vital component of the Irish defense, starting at the viper position and leading the team in both sacks and tackles for loss. His impressive stats, which included three sacks and five tackles for loss, made him a valuable asset to the team.
The 6-foot-4, 243-pound Traore’s rise to prominence came after Jordan Botelho suffered a season-ending knee injury, thrusting him into the starting lineup. Unfortunately, Traore’s own injury now leaves a significant void in the Irish defense.
Coach Marcus Freeman has announced that junior Tuihalamaka will step in to fill the gap left by Traore when the 12th-ranked Fighting Irish take on Stanford in their upcoming matchup. The Irish have already been dealing with the loss of offensive linemen Ashton Craig and Charles Jagusah to season-ending injuries, making Traore’s absence all the more challenging to overcome.
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